Would you ever contact another provider for information?

[playfelt]

It is actually very common to do that. One of the reasons is that it is actually illegal for providers to get together and discuss fees because it can mistrued as price fixing. We were warned about that from our association. For sure the child they need care for the second time would fall into a different age bracket right - as in first might have been under 18 months so an infant space and this one was for a toddler or preschooler as in they are trying to set their rates for each group.

[kh1214]

The first e-mail for a 14 month old and the second was for a 2 year old. It surprised me I guess because it never crossed my mind to reply to another providers ad.

[sunnydays]

This is news to me that it is illegal to talk with other providers about fees! I talked to many providers in my area about fees before setting mine and never thought twice about it. They were open to discussing it as they get upset with people coming on the scene with much lower fees.

It is actually very common to do that. One of the reasons is that it is actually illegal for providers to get together and discuss fees because it can mistrued as price fixing. We were warned about that from our association. For sure the child they need care for the second time would fall into a different age bracket right - as in first might have been under 18 months so an infant space and this one was for a toddler or preschooler as in they are trying to set their rates for each group.

[Judy Trickett]

This is news to me that it is illegal to talk with other providers about fees! I talked to many providers in my area about fees before setting mine and never thought twice about it. They were open to discussing it as they get upset with people coming on the scene with much lower fees.

I know. It's stupid. Yeah, tell me that most of those big grocery store conglomerates or the big box stores don't get together somehow. Seriously, how often do you see a store flyer from two unrelated stores and the same stuff is on sale? How come Home Depot and Lowes have the same items on sale within pennies of each other's price?? Like it or not that IS price fixing. The only difference between home daycare providers and home improvement stores is that the competition can walk IN TO each other's stores and just look on the shelf to see what their competition is charging for a door handle or a hammer.

It's stupid and I willingly talk fees with any provider who wants to.